Machine for stripping and cutting tobacco leaves



A a 1927? I 0. H. SlMPSON MACHINE FOR STRIPPING AND CUTTING TOBACCO LEAVES 4" Sheet Filed Dec. 22, 1923 INVENTOR 02 Aug. 9, 1927, x

- 1 D. H. SIMPSON MACHINE FOR STRIPPING AND CUTTING TOBACCO LEAVES Filed Dec. 22, 192p 4 Sheets-Sheet? 4 Sheais-Sheefi'f w D.v H. .filMPSON- Filed Dec. 22. 1925 05mm W BY Y C 4; m'rgaugg Aug. 9, 1927;.

momma FOR STRIPPING m3 CUTTING ToBA'cco mugs 1,638,018 D. H. siMPsoN MACHINE FOR STRIPPING AND CUTTING TOBACCO LEAVES Filed Dec. 22,1923 4 Sheets- Sheet 4 INVENTOR @A ORNEY3 Patented Aug. 9, 1927.

DAVID H. SIMPSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y. i

MACHINE FOR STRIPPING AND CUTTING TOBACCO LEAVES.

Application filed December 22, 1923.] Serial No. 682,151.-

The invention relates to improvements in tobacco leaf stripping and cutting machines which strip and cut the leaves of'tobacco to prepare the same for use in the manufac- 5 ture of cigars, smoking tohaccos, and the like. Y The principal object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which not only cuts the leaf of the tobacco 10 from its stem, but also crushes and cutsthe stem into strips so that it may also be'utilized in the manufacture of cigars and smoking tobaccos.

A further object of the invention is to 15 prdvide means in such a device whereby the stem of the tobacco leaf is cri nped atthe same time it is being cut into strips.

'A further object of the invention is to provide means for rolling the leaf on a 20 drum after it has been cut from itistem.

Further objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter, and I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings inwhich:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine constructed according to myinvention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same.

Figure 3 is a se ctional view onthe line 33, Figure 2 looking in the direction of 30 the arrows. V

Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine taken on the line it Figure Figure 5 is a partial sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows. v

Figure 6 is an end view taken on the line 66 of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows. 7

Figure 7 is a sectional view on the line 7-7 Figure 3 looking in the direction of lhe arrows. I 1

Figure 8 is adetail perspective view of a a portion of portionof the table or shelf along which stance to the housing or casing 9 as at 60.

, Secured to the table or shelf in any-suitable manner, as at 61, is a casing 2 which s adapted to enclose a drum 3. The casing isopen as at 21 and its end 62 is slotted as at 22 (see Fig. 9) so asito enable the end ,62 to project above the table or shelf 1, said slot being adapted, to receive the tongue 26 of said table as will be explained more fully hereinafter. The casing 2 is also provided with spring maintained rollers 23 which project towards and are in alignment with the drum 3. j

The drum 3 ismounted on a shaft 1 which is rotatabl secured'to said casing in any suitable manner; Also securedto the shaft 4 is the gear 5 which is adaptedto mesh with.

the gear 6.

The gear 6 is secured to a shaft 7 rotatably mounted in asupport- 8 secured to the casing 9 zit-.63, in any suitable manner.

- Mounted on the shaft 7 is the circular cutter 10 having the spaced cutting blades 11 and 12. Thecuttinghlades 11 and 12 are adapted to cooperate with the cutting blades 13 and 14 secured to the drum 3.

- Also mounted on the support 8 are tlierotatable shafts 15 and 16. Secured to shaft 1531s the guide roller 17 and'the gear 19.

Secured to the shaft 16 is the gear 20 adapted to mesh with gears 19 and G.

The table or shelf 1 is provided with slots 2-1 and thereimthrough which the blades 13 and 14: project and the cut-off ends 28 which are received in the open end of the casing 2. The tongue or extension 26 of said table or shelf. formed by the slotsv 24 and 25 and the cut-off ends28,'extends between and beyond the cutting blades and through the slot 22 in the casing 2 to a substantiallvwidened portion 26.

Secured to the widened portion'26 is the guide way 27 having the covered portion 27 and the side portions 29.

The guide roller "17 is adapted to operate between the side portions 29 of said guide way.

The above description relates to the mech anismjemployed, in accordance with my invention, for the purpose of stripping the to bacco leaf from the stem. I willnow describe the mechanism employed for crushing, shredding and crimping the stem after it has been parted from-theleaf.

Mounted in the housing 9 are the rotatable shafts 30, 31, 32, 33 and 34. Secured to the shafts 30 and 31 inside of-said casing or housing, are the crushing rollers 35 and 36 so placed with relation to each other that they contact with each other as they revolve v at 64. These rollers may be of steel or any other suitable material. Secured to the shafts and 31 on the outside of said casing or housing 9, are the gears 37 and 38. I Secured to the shafts 32 anc 33 on the inside of the casing or housing 9, are the rollers 39 and 40 upon which are mounted the spaced cutting elements 41 and 42 having knife edges. The knife edges on cutting element 41 on roller 39 are adapted to have a scissor-like cutting action withresp'ect tothe knife edges on cut-ting element 42 on roller 40. The cutting elements41 and. 42 are formed with the notches 46 which are arranged atspaced intervals in the elements.

The shafts 32 and 33 have secured thereto on the outside of the casing or housing 9, the gears 43 and 44.

A shaft 34 1s mounted in the casing or housing 9 and has secured thereto the gear 45 which is adapted to mesh with gears 37 and 43. The gears 37 and 43 are also so arranged to mesh with the gears 38 and 44.

Rotatably mounted on shafts 47 and 48 in said casing 9, arethe scraper blades 49 and 50. These blades are yieldingly maintained in contact with the surfaces of crushing rollers 35 and 36 by means of springs 51 and 52 on said shafts.

Mounted in the casing 9 in suitable manner, are the combs or pickers 53 which are so arranged that the points of the combs or pickers fit into the spaces between the cutting elements 41 and 42.

Secured to the gear 33 is one end of a crank lever 54 which is arranged to have its other end maintained in a guide support 55. Intermediate its end the crank lever is provided with the rack portion 56. The rack portion 56 is adapted to cooperate with pinion 57 loosely secured to the shaft 4 of the drum 3. A ratchetwheel 58 is fixedly secured to the shaft 4 outside of the pinion 57, and a pawl-59 is attached to. the pinion to engage with said ratchet wheel. The shaft 31 of the gear 38 is attached in any suitable manner with a source of power.

The operation of the structure as described is as follows When power is applied to the shaft 31,- motion is imparted 44 which in turn operate the rollers 35, '36, 41 and 42in the casing 9, causing them to revolve in the directions indicated by the are rows in Figure 1. At the same time motion is imparted to. the crank lever 54, thereby transmitting motion to the pinion 57 loosely secured to the shaft 4 of the drum 3. hen the crank and rack are moved one way, the pinion turns loosely on the shaft; and when the crank and rack move the oppositeway, thepinion turnsthe shaft by means of its pawl and the ratchet wheel fast on the shaft to the gears 37, 38, 43 and 4, thereby ofv the drum. This can be clearly understood from the drawings. When the shaft 4 is rotated as above explained, the drum secured to the shaft is rotated and the gear 5 which is in mesh with gear 6, imparts motion thereto which in turn moves gears 20 and 19, thereby causing the rotation of the circular cutting knives and the roller 17.

Tobacco leaves are fed to the rotating cutting knives 11 and 12 which cooperate with knives 13 and 14 so that the stem of the leaves passes between the said knives and the leaf is thereby cut away from the said stem. The leaf portions pass over the ends 28 of the table or shelf 1, and are guided onto the drum 3 by the open end of the casing 2.

After the leaf portion 'of the leaf is transferred to the drum, it is held inclose contact therewith by means of the springm'ain' tained rollers 23. 1 The stem portion of the tongue or extension 2,6v of the tabl'or shelf and under the covered portion ofthe guide way 27, where its progress is guided and helped along by the roller 17 operating in said guide way.

The stem then passes between the crushing rollers 35 and 36. Thelcrushing rollers flatten out the stem and also progress flattened stem to the stem cutting elements mounted on rollers 39 and 40. The scrapers 49 and5O help to keep the rollers clean and also serve as guides for the crushed and flattened stem to the cutting elements. flattened stem then passes between the spaced cutting elements on rollers 39 and 40,1 and is cut into strips by reason of the knife edges of said elementsand, by reason of the spaced notches '46 in said knives, the strips are crimped. The stripped stem then passes from the cutting element-s and said strips are picked therefrom and guided to, thereceiving table by the pickers or combs 53.

Having now described a construction embodying my invention, and without thereby desiring to be understood as unduly limiting myself, what I claim as new and useful, of my own invention and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a machine for stripping and cutting tobacco leaves the combination of a cutting mechanism to sever the leaf from itsstem,

means for cutting the stem into strips, means 7 I for advancing the stem from the leaf severing mechanism to. the stem cutting mechanism, and means for transmitting power to said leaf severing and stem cutting means.

2. In a machine for stripping and cutting tobacco leaves the combination of a cutting mechanism to sever the leaf from its stem, means for cutting the stem into strips, means for advancing the stem from the leaf severing mechanism to the stem cutting mechacausing an intermittent motion The the leaf passes along the stem cutting means and means secured to said stem cuttingpower transmitting means to operate said leaf severing means,

,3. In a machine for stripping and cutting tobacco leaves 'the combination ofa cutting mechanismto" sever the leaf from itsstem,

means for cutting the stem into strips, means for advancing the stem from the leaf severing mechanism to the stem cutting mechanism, meansfor transmitting power to said stern cutt ng means and means securedto said stem'cutting powertransmitting means, 'to intermittently operate saidl'eaf severing means. i n 1 4. In a machine for "stripping and cutting tobacco leaves the combination of a cutting mechanism to sever the lea-ffrom its stem,

means for crushing the stem after the leaf hasbeen severed therefrom, means for cut- ,ting thestem into strips, means for advancing the stem from the leaf severing mechanism to the stem crush ng and cutting means,

means for'transmitting power to said stem to intermittently operate said leaf severing means. Y

5. In a machine for stripping and cutting tobaccorleaves the combination'of a cutting mechanism to sever the leaf from its stem, means-for cutting the stem into strips, means 'associatedwith said stem cutting means for crimping the strips, means for advancing the stem from the leaf severing mechanism to' a the stem cutting mechanism, and means for transmitting power to said leafvsevering' and stem cutting means.

6. In a machine for stripping and "cutting tobacco leaves the combination of a cutting mechanism adapted to sever the leaf from its stem, a drum upon which the severed leaf is Wound, means for cuttingthe stem into mechanism adapted to sever the leaf from its stem, a drum upon which the severed leaf is wound, means for crushing the stem after e leaf has been severed therefrom, means can for cutting the stem into strips after it has been crushed, means cooperating with said crushing means for feeding the crushed stem to said stem cutting means and means for transmitting power to the leaf severing, stem crushing and cutting means.

8. 'In a machine for stripping and cutting tobacco leaves the combination of a cutting mechanism to sever the leaf from its stem, a drum upon which the severed leaf is wound, means for crushing the stem after the leaf crushing; and cutting means from said leaf the leaf severing and stem' has been severed therefrom, 'means for cutting the stem into strlps' a'fter it has been crushed, means for feeding said stem-to said severing mechanism, and powertransmitting means for simultaneously actuatingv said leaf SGVQIIIIg, stem crushing, stem'cutting means and 'said drum; I 7

9.. In a machine fonfstripping and cutting tobacco leaves the combination of a cutting irechanismto sever the leaf from its stem,-.

drum upon which the severed leaf is Wound, means forcrushing the stem after the leaf 'has'be'en severed therefrom, means for. stripp ng and-crimping thestem after it has been crushed, means for feeding saidstem to said crushing'and cuttingmeans from said leaf 'severingmechanism, "and means for trans mitting power simultaneously to'the said severing; crushing, and cutting means and to said drum.

7 110, In a machine forstripping and cutting tobacco leaves the combination of a cutting v mechanism to sever the leaf from its stem, crushing and cuttingfmeans and meansfadrum upon Which thesevered leaf is wound,

secured to said power transmittingmeans means'for guiding said leaf on said drum, means for crushingsai'd stem'afterthe leaf has beengs'evered therefrom, means for cutting the stem into strips and crimpingthe tobacco leaves the combination of rotary cu'tting blades adapted to sever theleaf from crush the stem afterthe leaf has been severed ftherefromprotary cutting knives for cutting the stem into strips, and driving meansto simultaneously actuate said rotary cutting blades, crushing rollers, rotary cutting knives'and said drum.

12. Ina stripping and cutting machine for the stem, a drum upon which the severed leaf 'lS'WOlIIld, crushing rollers arranged so as to tobacco leaves the combination of rotary cutting blades adapted to sever the leaf from the stem, a drum upon which the severed leaf 1 is wound, cutting blades on said drum adapted to cooperate with said rotary cutting blades, driving mechanism for saiddrum, 'means secured to said drum for driving said rotary cutting blades, crushing rollers 'ar "ranged so as tocrush the stem after'the-leaf has been severed therefrom, means for cutting the stem into strips and crimping the said strips after the stem has been crushed, means for feeding the stem from said leaf severing blades to said crushing rollers and cutting means, driving means for actuating saidstem crushing rollers and rotary cutting knives, and means secured to said driving means for actuating the driving mechanism for said drum.

13.; I-n ,a strippingeand cutting machine for tobacco leaves the combination of rotary cutting blades adapted to sever theleaf from the stem, drum upon which, the severed leaf is wound, means-for guiding said ileaf on said drum,- crushing,rollers to crush said stem after the ,leaf has been severed therefrom, mean-sfor guiding said stem to said crushingrollers, rotary cutting knives for cuttingthestem into strips, anddriving ,means to simultaneouslyactuate said rotary cutting blades, -crushing ,ro llers, rotary cut ting knives andsaid drum; n i

14:. In a stripping and :cutting machine for tobacco leaves the combination-of rotary cutting blades adapted to sever the leaf 'fromithestem, adrum upon which the sevcredleaf is Wound, means for-guiding said leaf on saiddrum, crusl il g rollers to crush saidqstem afterthe leaf has been severed therefrom, means for guiding said stem to said crushing rollers, scrap ngmeans yieldingly-engag ng sa d rollers,rotary cutt ng knives for cutting the stem into strips after 1t ;has been =fcrushed, means for gu ding the crushed stem to said rotary vcutting knives,

driving 111163115 "for actuating said stem:

crushing rollersand rotary cutting knives,

and means secureli-to said driving meansfor actuating-the driving mechanism for.

said drum.

. 15. .In a stripping and cutting machine for tobacco 'leavesthe combination-0f rotary cutting knivesadapted to sever thegleaf from its stem,v a, drum up on VVlllClLthQ- severed leaf Wound, a ,cover for said v-drum, means I yieldinglyv maintained insaidcoverto maintain said severed leaf on said drum, crushing rollers ,arranged so as :to crush the stem after the leaf has been severed therefrom, rotary cuttinggknives for cutting the stem into strips, Lmeans associated with said stem stripping knives means cutting knives to the sstem crushing rollers,

;and driving means tosimultaneously actuate said leaf cutting-iknives,,drum, crushingroll- Hers and stem cuttin iknives.

16. In a stripping :ill'lCl cutting machine: for tobacco leaves-the comb natlon of rotary cutting'knives adapted to sever. the leaf from its stem, a drum upon which the severed I leaf is Wound, a cover forsaid drum, means yieldingly maintained 1n-sa1d cover to-maintain-said-severed leaf onsaid drum, crush-V :ingrollers arranged soas to crushithe stem cutting knives to yieldingly maintained in tam said severed leaf on said drum, crushting . cooperate for crimping the strips, for advancingrthe stem from the leaf .cular knives,

ea e-ni s after the leaf has been severed therefrom, means for advancing the stem frointhe 'lea'f the crushing rollers,'rotary cutting knives for cutting the stem into strips, means associated with stem strip- ,pingIlrnives for crimping the strips, means for, picking :Sa'idstrips from said cutting knivesand driving means to simultaneously actuate said leaf cutting knives, drum,

crushing rollers and stem cutting,knives.

.17. In .a stripping and cutting machii e fortobaccoileaves the combination ,of rotary cutting knivesadapted to. sever the leaf from its stem, a. drum upon which theseveredleajf is vvound, a cover for said drum, means said cover to main- ,ing rollersarrairged so as to crush thestem after ithe'leaf has been severed therefrom, means for feeding said rollers fromtheleaf severing knives, rotary cutting vknives for cutting the [stem into stem to the crushing strips,means associated with said stem'stripping knives ,for crimping othestrips, means for picking said knives, a receiving table for said strips, means .to. guidesaid strips to said receiving table, and driving means-to simultaneously actuate saidleaf cutting knives, drum, crushing rollers andstem cutting knives.

18. In aimachine =forstripping and cuts tobacco ,leaves the" combination of spaced circular cutting knives adapted to with spaced circular cutting knives mounted .on a drum, said knives adapted to sever the leaf from its stem, ,crushing rollers to crush the stem, a guide Way for'said stem to said crushing rollers, vmeans,operating in said guide Way to advance said stem to said crushing roller, scrapers cooperating Withsaid crushing-rollers, spaced circularknives adapted to cut the stem intostrips after it has been crushed, ,means to guide said crushed stem to said cirmeans cooperating with said circular knives to crimp neansifor picking said crimped strips from said knives, and means fortransmitting power v.simultaneously to the leaf severing, stem crushing and cutting' means and to said drum. 7 r

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand .:on this 18th day of December, A.'D.,1923.

DAVID snrrson.

the cut strips,

strips from said cutting 

